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Americans for Prosperity spokespeople declined to say how much money the Koch network — founded by the brothers Charles and David Koch (pictured) — plans to spend via the new super PAC this election cycle. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo

Koch network launches new super PAC

With just weeks to go before the midterm elections, the massive Koch network is adding a new super PAC to its political arsenal.

The new super PAC, AFP Action, will give the Koch network’s largest arm — Americans for Prosperity — significantly more leeway to push lawmakers directly on political issues, adding another tool to AFP’s arsenal at a moment when the Koch network is trying to assert its power in Washington.

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Americans for Prosperity’s existing organization, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, is required by law to spend a significant amount of money on “social welfare” activities and cannot expressly urge voters to cast ballots for or against a member of Congress. But the new AFP Action super PAC can expand that work by spending unlimited sums of money on political activities.

The new super PAC has been under discussion for some time and does not affect the Koch network’s already-set plans to spend $400 million on politics and policy this election cycle, spokesman Bill Riggs said.

Americans for Prosperity spokespeople declined to say how much money the Koch network — founded by the brothers Charles and David Koch — plans to spend via the super PAC this election cycle, and offered few details about the super PAC’s future activities in their announcement.

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“Our mission is to help improve lives by breaking the barriers holding people back, and that requires building the policy coalitions in Washington to get it done,” Riggs said. “Americans for Prosperity has been a difference-maker supporting policy champions in tight races, and AFP Action is a new tool that will allow us to expand those efforts and make an even larger impact.”